# LaiNES: cycle-level NES hardware emulation

> LaiNES reconstructs NES console behavior in a cycle-level emulator. Its implementation models the 6502 CPU, PPU, audio hardware and common cartridge mappers, while technical notes describe timing the PPU at three steps per CPU cycle.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Firmware
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/AndreaOrru/LaiNES>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/AndreaOrru/LaiNES/blob/1f3d126171104ec57e515641ea3b5291d383ebdf/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/laines-nes-emulation-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/laines-nes-emulation-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/laines-nes-emulation-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Building requires SCons, a C++14 compiler, SDL2, SDL2-ttf and SDL2-image on a compatible Unix system.
- **Limits:** Mapper compatibility is limited to the listed implementations.
- **License:** Licensed under BSD-2-Clause.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/AndreaOrru/LaiNES/blob/1f3d126171104ec57e515641ea3b5291d383ebdf/README.md>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.